Bandit Attacks: Avoid Cheap Publicity For Terrorism, Labour Institute’s DG Cautions Media

The director general of the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS), Comrade Issa Aremu, yesterday cautioned media practitioners against sensational reportage that conferred undeserved publicity on the cowardly activities of bandits and terrorists.

Aremu gave this advice in Ilorin, Kwara State, as the government and people of the state grappled with the aftermath of the terror attack on the people of Woro and Nuku communities in Kaiama local government area of the state.

Speaking on the sidelines of his electronic membership registration with the  All Progressives Congress  (APC) at Baboko Ward in Ilorin West local government area, Aremu observed that the terror attacks on Woro and Nuku communities, which resulted in mass murder of residents, elicited humanitarian crisis tasks professionalism of journalists with respect to “ethics, balance and sobriety”.

Aremu who is a member of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies ( NIPPS) Kuru, Jos, Plateau State, said given that:  “ Media coverage of terrorist attacks often influence public perception,” adding that,” journalists must remain measured, less sensational and resist according underserved oxygen of publicity to terrorists’  behavior that would further amplify fear among citizens inadvertently advancing the evil of the terrorists. ”

Aremu said rather than promoting gory stories of deaths and destruction being the trademarks of cowardly extremists who operate in darkness, the media should bring to the fore the commendable efforts of the affected communities, state and the federal government under President Bola  Tinubu to overcome the pain and stem the tide of attacks.

While commending the prompt response of both the Kwara State government and the federal government through security deployments and humanitarian aid to the Woro and Nuku communities, Aremu, however, advised that efforts should be intensified to prevent attacks by promptly acting on intelligence reports.

Aremu added, “It was time for a development approach to fighting terrorism through reclaiming ungoverned spaces through growth and development. “ Let there be industries, agri-allied industries, schools, governments, roads, and electrification, to gainfully employ the youths and make them less vulnerable to extremism. There are three solutions to terrorism: development, development and development.”